Methods and systems for treating the vasculature with estrogens

• US 20040162542A1
• Filed: 12/03/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mercator MedSystems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: EndoBionics, Inc.
• Inventors: Seward, Kirk Patrick, Barr, Lynn Mateel, Wilber, Judith Carol
• Application Number:
  US10/728,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20040162542A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/507
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0093 wherein at least one needle is a microneedle
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/0096 being laterally outward extensions or tools, e.g. hooks or fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/1086 having a special balloon surface topography, e.g. pores, protuberances, spikes or grooves
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 25/10 Balloon catheters A61M25/0125 takes precedence; embolectomy A61B17/22032; retractors A61B17/02; inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts A61F2/958 ; stomach balloons for treatment of obesity A61F5/0003; oesophagal tubes A61J15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/00 Other apparatus for introducing media into the body for reproduction or fertilisation A61B17/425; apparatus for iontophoresis or cataphoresis A61N1/30; Percutany, i.e. introducing medicines into the body by diffusion through the skin salt baths A61H33/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 37/0015 by using microneedles

Abstract

Methods and systems for inhibiting neointimal hyperplasia and treating vulnerable plaque comprise direct needle injection of estrogen into a perivascular space or adventitial tissue.

Claims

1. A method for treating a blood vessel, said method comprising injecting an estrogen into a location beyond the endothelium of the blood vessel.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the blood vessel is an artery.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the artery is a coronary artery.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein the estrogen is an estradiol.

5. A method as in claim 4, wherein the estradiol is selected from the group consisting of 17-beta-estradiol and estradiol cypionate.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the blood vessel is at risk of hyperplasia.

7. A method as in claim 6, wherein the estrogen is injected proximate the region of hyperplasia risk.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the blood vessel has regions of vulnerable plaque.

9. A method as in claim 8, wherein the estrogen is injected proximate a region of vulnerable plaque.

10. A method as in claim 1, wherein injecting comprises introducing a catheter into a lumen of the blood vessel and advancing a needle from the catheter, wherein the estrogen is injected through the needle.

11. A method as in claim 10, wherein the needle is advanced into a perivascular space beyond the outside of the endothelium.

12. A method as in claim 11, wherein the needle is advanced into the adventia surrounding the blood vessel.

13. A method as in claim 1, wherein the estrogen is injected in an amount sufficient to permeate circumferentially around the endothelium and into the adventia over an axial length of at least 1 cm.

14. A method as in claim 1, wherein the needle is advanced in a radial direction to a depth in the adventitia equal to at least 10% of the mean luminal diameter at the blood vessel location.

15. A method as in claim 14, wherein the depth is a distance in the range from 10% to 50% of the mean luminal diameter.

16. A system for treating a blood vessel, said system comprising:

an amount of an estrogen, and

an intravascular catheter having a needle for injecting the estrogen into a location beyond the endothelium of the blood vessel.